G-PROV is the only Mk 52 Jet Provost still flying today.
A light, ground attack export version of the Jet Provost Mk 4 trainer, it is a true combat veteran.

The aircraft was built by BAC in Warton as Jet Provost Mk 4 XS228, and delivered to the RAF at 27MU RAF Shawbury on 3rd July 1964. It was never issued to any RAF unit. Instead, it remained in reserve until January 1967, when it was bought back by BAC for refurbishment and re-sale.

It was converted to a T.52 for the South Arabian Air Force (later to become South Yemen), and test flown from Teversham under the B-class registration G-27-7. It was subsequently ferried to its new home and entered active service as aircraft '104', sustaining minor combat damage during some operational sorties.
In December 1975, the aircraft was transferred to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), as aircraft '352'. Remaining in service until it was replaced by a BAC Strikemaster in 1980, '352' was withdrawn and placed in store.

Three years later, in early 1983, the aircraft was sold to the Brencham Historic Aircraft Company Ltd, based at Bournemouth Airport. It was brought back to the UK by sea, arriving at Southampton Docks in October that year. Subsequently moved to Bournemouth, restoration was started by Mike Carlton's Hunter One Collection, to bring the aircraft back to flying condition.
The aircraft gained its civilian permit to fly in April 1985 under its new G-PROV identity, and was then painted in a dark red colour scheme with its
registration applied on the rear fuselage.
Sadly Mike was tragically killed in a Republic Seabee accident in August 1986, and a year later a major auction was staged by Christies to disperse the aircraft.

At the auction Ian Craig-Wood and his brother Douglas bought G-PROV. This acquisition subsequently began a process of events that ultimately saw the creation of Jet Heritage Ltd in 1989, arguably Europe's premier jet war-bird company during the 1990s.
G-PROV was joined by a Meteor, Hunter T7 and a Sea Hawk at Jet Heritage's Bournemouth facilities, but due to the company's gradual consolidation policy G-PROV was offered for sale a few years later.

In early 1993 G-PROV was acquired by Rory McCarthy and was flown to Leavesdon airfield on March 15th that year. A move to North Weald followed in February 1994, and G-PROV was housed with Gosh That's Aviation Ltd and then later McCarthy Aviation.
During the summer of 1999 the aircraft, now painted in pseudo ETPS colours of red/white/blue, moved to Kemble airfield in Gloucestershire,
where Delta Jets maintained it.
In 2000 it changed hands again, returning to North Weald, where it was later syndicated and operated privately under "The Provost Group" banner.

Now operated by Swords Aviation, G-PROV is one of the lowest-houred Jet Provosts left in existence, and should remain airworthy for many years to come. It has recently been re-finished in its original South Arabian Air Force colours, and looks fantastic!